The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-06

My roommate that night was DR. Hin
ton, one of the oldest and wealthiest ply
sicians of the place. The Doctor was
popular man. He had been Mayor o
silverton, and lac was, moreover, life
long friend of Judge Pike. | could moi
have selected a better man for the pur
pose.
Again the moon flooded the room witt
Eight as on the previous night arrang
ed the bedclothes in the shape of hu.
man figure, and stationed myself behind
the screen with Dr. Hinton
Twelve o'clock came, and one, but we
reuained undisturbed.
He is not coming" whispered the
( Doctor.
Perhaps not" answered, " but feel
in duty hound TO watch"
Very we'll yawned the Doctor, /" 1
am with you, but we did not go to work
in The right way"
What would have been your plan ?'
asked.
4Why, simply tbs. We should have
concealed ourselves in the corridor and
watched his door When he came out we
could havd followed him at little dis
tance. As it is, he may visit another
room, and in that event our time viii be
LOST
1T is all very well to suggest that now"
| answered, " but there are objections to
your plan. The guests who found us
prowling around the corridor would de-
mand explanations, and we would have
found it nece, sarv to let too many into
our secret. Now, it seems reasonable to
suppose that the force Of habit will draw
the Judge to the same place. This room
is next the one in which the murder oc-
CURED, and if my theory is correct your
friend was making for that room last
night. Finding it securely fistened-you
know it has been nailed up since the in
quest -he tried the next door. which is
.mias- II he walks at. all Ito=niaht- / be-
There is something in that said my
companion but | hope that he will
not come Think Of the effect upon his
mind if our suspicious should turn out to
be the truth
4 Hush ~ | whispered.
The door creaked a little, and white
robetl figure gently glided in.
1t is the judge said the Doctor, un-
der his breath.
And ii was the Judge 1t was plainly
evident even in the moonlight that he
was asleep, but his features were twitch-
ing convulsiyely. In his right hand he
carried the dagger
Swiftly. and yet without making the
slightest noise, the sleepwalker approach
ed the bed. and, stretching forth one
hand, commenced cautiously feeling.
When his hand rested upon the sham
figure he delivered the same rapid thrust
with the dagger tnat ! had witnessed
the night before, and fled from the
room.
DIR. Hinton was cool man whenthere
was work to do. He signaled TO me, and
we ran after the Judge, following him
into his room.
Judge Pike closed his door end faced
us For momen ! thought that he was
awake, but soon saw thathe was uncon-
scious. He went to his trunk and, lifting
its contents carefully, placed the dagger
at the bottom. Then he threw himself
into an arm chair.
Il hate to do it, said DR.. Hinton, but
it must be done"
lie advanced 10 the chair and shook
the sleeping man.
How dare you?" he exclaimed.
4" What does this mean? Why, gentle
men, this is strange. How is it that You
are in my room p
He looked down at his costume, and
buried his face in his hands.
"Have been i'll ?" he asked.
"My friend" said the doctor, 81 am
about TO bring great sorrow upon you.
but know that you are brave enough to
bear the truth What have to say does
not reflect upon your character, and il is
necessary that you should know it"
Speak, huskiIy commanded the
Judge.
Nav open your trunk moment" ?"
asked the Doctor.
Certainly" was the reply make
Yourself at home
The Doctor drew from the bottom of
the trunk the dagger.
sHow did that get there ?" was the
Judges stern question. " have no weap-
ons. never saw that before"
The doctor held the dagger up. On IFS
handle was engraved the name of John
Luh.
This calls for an explanation, sir, said
Judge Pike, with an angry look.
Tell him. said the Doctor, turning to
me.
Ii was the hardest task of my life, but
in some fashion | managed TO tell the
story In the middle of il the Doctor
came to my rescue, and, with his arm
around his friends neck, he told him all
the events OF the night.
The Judges face assume "a deathly
pallor. and several times ! expected to
see him faint He took the dagger in his
hand and looked at the name.
q understand it all, !" be groaned.
He threw the dagger on the floor.
:. Gentlemen" said he, sadly, leave
me now. Let me sleep, if | can. In
the morning my nerves will be stronger,
and we will then consult together to see
how TO do Justice to Luff without doing
injustice to me- The whole truth must
come out"
We left the room, and returned to
mine
4what win be the end of it2- ! asked
the Doctor.
Impossible to say" he replied. pike